Technology: BPA

BPA is a chemical that is often found in plastics; it mimics estrogen in the body, and is harmful for children and pregnant women. Exposing a pregnant woman to BPA affects three generations at once: the woman, the fetus, and the fetus’ reproductive organs. BPA can be found in food packaging and paper receipts, and BPA can be absorbed even when the plastics the BPA is found in are not heated, according to a recent Harvard study (dispelling the notion that BPA can only be drawn out with heat.) 93% of U.S. citizens have detectable BPA in their bodies – technological advances in BPA detection can prompt federal policy shifts that encourage stricter regulation of BPA in consumer goods. The market’s desire for this technology is strong, and only time will tell what inventors come up with next.